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I really like the AirPods Pro 3, especially now that I've rejoined the Apple fold with my shiny new iPhone 17 Pro Max. I like the instant pairing, the comfortable fit, and the interoperability between my collection of Apple devices. There's a problem, however, since only a handful of those features are available to Android users.
The AirPods are excellent earbuds, but if you use Google's operating system, there are superior options available to you. Earbuds with better codec support and more features designed for your devices. Will they reach the same heights as the iPhone and AirPods pairing? Perhaps not, but they may well be better in some key areas.
I've made a list of three alternative earbuds at different price points so that you can find the best earbuds for you. Let's get started.
Under $150 — Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 might have a long name, but the little buds are an incredible AirPods Pro-like package for an affordable price. Coming in at $100 less than the AirPods Pro 3, they've got reliable touch controls, a compact case, and sound quality that should make Apple's sound engineers look twice at their frequency response graphs.
They're extremely well detailed, bringing out all the finer points of your music. I've popped them in friends' ears (with permission, of course — I am not "she who attacks you with earbuds in the night." ) who've reported that there are small elements to tracks they're familiar with that they've never heard before.
That's not to mention the truly ridiculous battery life. There's 39 hours worth of staying power in the case alone, and 10 hours of use in the buds with ANC on. That's two more hours than the AirPods Pro 3.
Below $300 — Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds gen 2
One of the biggest updates to the AirPods Pro 3 has been the incredible noise canceling — that still doesn't quite reach the same heady heights as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd gen. Bose's buds still live at the top of the best noise-canceling earbuds list thanks to their game-changing noise canceling that really does completely negate the sounds of the outside world.
They're also very, very comfortable — perhaps slightly more so than Apple's buds. It's all down to the extra fitting wings that Bose have fitted to the outside, which means the buds themselves don't have to reach inside your ear cavity as far for a well-sealed and stable fit.
Sound is good, and you can tweak it more easily thanks to a 3-band EQ in the Bose app. Battery life could be better than the 6 hours you're provided straight out of the box, but 6 hours isn't the worst. If you want the best noise canceling, though, these are the way to go.
Under $500 — Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
The Pi8 are an audio monster. They sound incredible, with excellent response across the entire frequency range. The soundstage is wide so your music sounds more immersive, and they're impactful so that drums and bass notes can be physically felt — not just heard. They're one of the best-sounding earbuds you can buy right now, outperforming almost everything else.
They're comfortable as well, although some might find them more intrusive than the AirPods. They connect up easily with Android phones, and work with the B&W Music app so that you can pass music around a B&W-filled home. You can also adjust the EQ here, if you want them to sound slightly different or dial them in for a different genre.
Their battery life is fine but not exemplary, but when you listen to the sound, you won't mind so much. ANC is proficient, and the case is compact. I love my Pi8s, and if you can afford them, they might be the perfect AirPods Pro 3 alternative.
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